LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - BP on Tuesday reported a 65percent rise in fourth-quarter profit, beating forecasts, as oiland gas output rose sharply following the acquisition of BHP'sU.S. shale assets.
Fourth-quarter underlying replacement cost profit, thecompany's definition of net income, reached $3.5 billion,exceeding a company-provided forecast of $2.63 billion.
That compared with a profit of $2.11 billion a year earlierand $3.84 billion in the third quarter of 2018.
For the year, BP's profit rose to $12.7 billion, double theprevious year's $6.17 billion. Analysts expected 2018 profits of$11.88 billion.(Reporting by Ron Bousso, editing by Louise Heavens)
BP (BP.)
